Southampton jobs to go at Ford

Union accuses Ford of "betrayal"

Unite has accused Ford of betraying its workforce in Southampton and Dagenham and has vowed to fight the closures announced today.

Ford has announced the end of production of the renowned transit van at its plant in Southampton by 2013 and the closure of its stamping and tooling facility in Dagenham with a total loss of around1500 jobs and more in the supply chain.

"Ford has betrayed its workforce and its loyal customer base. Unite is going to fight these closures. This announcement has been handled disgracefully.

"Only a few months ago Ford was promising staff a new transit model for Southampton in 2014.

"The Transit has been the best-selling van in the UK for over a quarter of a century. It has a future in the UK if this government is prepared to fight for real jobs and persuade Ford to keep manufacturing vehicles in the UK. "

– Unite general secretary Len McCluskey

There will be a mass meeting of workers from Southampton on Monday 29 October.